Guest Review: The Cornish Cream Tea Summer by Cressida McLaughlin

Charlie has a new helper on her bus, her free-spirited and loveable cousin, Delilah, who’s paid a visit to the charming Cornish village of Porthgolow and is helping out on Charlie’s adorable cream tea bus.

When the Director of a new TV series filming further along the coast tells Delilah that the bus would be the perfect addition to their onsite catering, she takes him a bit too literally. Charlie and Delilah find themselves caught up in the filming of a lavish period drama and it isn’t long before Delilah finds herself drawn to the handsome male lead.

But Delilah has made a habit of making rash decisions and it’s one of the reasons she’s hiding out in Cornwall. Could this be one impulsive step too far, or is a change of direction the start of something quite unexpected…

Review: This book, originally published electronically in four parts, follows on from this author’s previous novel, The Cornish Cream Tea Bus. I have waited until having read all parts before writing this review to avoid giving away any spoilers. Although this could well be read as a stand-alone book, I would recommend reading the other novel first. Many of the characters have been well established in the first book and it would be easier to understand the relationships with previous knowledge. I found this a quick and satisfying read, eagerly awaiting publication of each part of the e-series.

In this book, the proprietor of the Cornish Cream Tea Bus, Charlie, is joined by her cousin, Delilah (Lila for short), whose impetuous nature has got her into trouble, resulting in her losing both her job and her best friend. She has fled from her life in London to stay with Charlie in the lovely Cornish seaside village of Porthgolow for a while. A chance meeting between Lila and a TV executive results in the bus becoming part of the onsite catering provision for the set of a period drama being filmed nearby. Both girls enjoy meeting the cast and crew members as they serve them delicious offerings. Lila becomes particularly friendly with actors Sam and Keeley, and even discovers a flair for acting herself. As time goes on, it looks as though Lila’s feelings towards Sam could be more than friendship, but she’s not sure whether taking things further would be the best step for either of them.

I can wholeheartedly recommend this book, and the series, to other readers. There is a satisfying mix of serious and light-hearted moments. Lila’s impulsive actions had me worried on more than one occasion and glad of the steadying influence of her more grounded cousin. While making a lovely summer read, i feel that the story would, in fact, raise the spirits at any time of the year, as the reader is treated to descriptions of the picturesque Cornish seaside and countryside as well as a myriad of delicious things to eat and drink. I enjoyed the peak behind the scenes on the film set, with the characters appearing in costume from time to time evoking thoughts of Poldark and Jane Austen novels. I was happy to find that another book in the Cornish Cream Tea series is in the pipeline, hopefully with us for Christmas; I shall be on the lookout for that.

To order your copy now, just click the link: UK or US

Review: Christmas in St Ives by Miranda Dickinson

A wonderfully festive ebook short that will get you excited for the Christmas season, by the author of the bestselling Fairytale of New York.

Heartbroken Cerrie Austin is doing her best to hold it together in the run up to Christmas. Not easy when her cheating ex works in the same school and everyone’s eyes are on her. The last thing she needs is a new teacher meddling in her beloved nativity play, even if he is charming, handsome and a talented musician. The Christmas performance is her pride and joy, and she won’t be undermined.

Seren McArthur has recently returned to her Cornish hometown and is enjoying being close to her family and her oldest friends again. St Ives is at its most magical at Christmas, with fairy lights and tinsel in every shop window, tempting locals and holidaymakers alike as they pick up gifts. But an exciting opportunity is just around the corner: will she stay or will she go? 

Meanwhile, the St Ives Christmas celebrations are in crisis: plans for a giant lantern parade through the starlit streets have ground to a halt. As the snow starts to fall, can Cerrie, Seren and their friends Kieran and Aggie rally around in time to save the big day? 

Christmas in St Ives is a charming novella that introduces you to the characters from Miranda Dickinson’s upcoming novel, Somewhere Beyond the Sea. Available for preorder now! Just click the link: UK or US

Review: ok this was just the perfect start to the festive season for me. I am now ready to drink peppermint mochas, mulled wine and snowballs, watch all the christmas films and wrap my presents. And all this from one novella. I decided not to gobble up this festive offering in one go but to take it in slowly and savour it so I read it in 3 sittings. I really feel like i got to know the characters this way and I can't wait to meet them again in Somewhere Beyond the Sea in June 2018!

I think that Cerrie was my favourite character but that is because she is a kick-ass teacher and just a kick-ass woman in general. Miranda did such a good job writing about what it is like to be a teacher putting on a christmas production and got all the little important details spot on! I loved Aggie too and I know I would loved to visit her coffee hut after a long day at school as well. Of course I know we are going to find out more about Seren in Somewhere Beyond The Sea, and I really hope I get to see all of these characters get their happy endings in that book next year. 

This works really well as a novella because it is getting us ready for christmas, but also getting us ready for this novel next year. I love the fact that we have been introduced to these characters, we know some of their back story and their relationships to each other. But also we get to know about their lives and their town. It was great getting to know how the community works so we candice right in when the novel is out next year. 

The Christmas level in this novel is on high and it really does celebrate all the little things that we take for granted during the festive season. there isn't so much talk pop christmas trees, christmas dinner and the presents, but the events like the school play and the shop windows being dressed. `the first festive drink of the season and people breaking up from school for the holidays. I know these things are so important to me and reading about them made me feel so ready for the holidays. 

This book was a bargain and could definitely be a quick read if you decided to devour it all at once. Whether you are planning to read the follow up novel or not, I would definitely recommend picking this one up to get you in the festive mood and make you feel all warm and sparkly this winter!

Guest Review: Christmas on The Little Cornish Isles by Phillipa Ashley

For Maisie Samson, this Christmas is going to be different. After years working in a busy Cornish pub, she’s moved back to quiet Gull Island where she grew up, to help her parents run the family inn.

But even though she can’t wait for the festive season to arrive, Maisie cannot shake the memories of what happened to her last Christmas – the day she lost everything. She keeps herself busy, setting up the tree and hanging mistletoe ready for her first proper family Christmas in years.

Until a new arrival to the island walks into her bar and changes everything. Australian backpacker Patrick is looking for a job for the low season. When Maisie takes him on, she doesn’t expect him to last the week, but to her surprise Patrick is the perfect fit. Charming and handsome, could Maisie allow herself to hope that she and Patrick could be more than just colleagues?

As Christmas approaches, Maisie finds herself dreading the spring, when Patrick is due to leave. With the help of a little Christmas magic, can Maisie get the happily ever after she always dreamed of?

Christmas on the Little Cornish Isles is the first in a stunning new series from Phillipa Ashley. The perfect book to snuggle up with this Christmas.

Review: This is book 1 in the Little Cornish Isles series, a new collection from Phillipa Ashley. I very much enjoyed her last series, about the Cornish Cafe, and was interested to find out about the Cornish Isles, or Isles of Scilly. I have never visited this part of the world, but felt sure that Phillipa's writing would bring them alive for me; I was not disappointed. 

The story revolves around Maisie Samson and her parents, Ray and Hazel, who own the Driftwood Inn on the fictitious Gull Island. Maisie has returned home to help run the Inn after previously having worked in a busy Cornish pub. She is preparing the Inn for the festive season and also looking forward to her 40th birthday on New Year's Eve, all the time looking back on a less than happy time last Christmas. All is not well in the seemingly idyllic little island, as Hugo Scorrier, owner of neighbouring Petroc Island, is trying to expand his resort to encompass Gull Island and perhaps win Maisie's heart into the bargain. However, blond Australian Patrick McKinnon arrives on the scene and takes on the job of barman at the Inn, bringing with him a breath of fresh air for the islanders and a chance of romance for Maisie. 

This was a lovely story, really well written as you would expect from Phillips Ashley, and full of evocative details about these islands. I enjoyed the idea of people sailing between the islands in their day to day activities; it made me determined to go and visit one of these days. In addition to the call of the sea, there were the little cottages with stunning views and the flower farm, all adding to the charm of the setting. I would heartily recommend this book as a heartwarming Christmas read, perfect for getting you into the mood for the coming season. 

To order your copy now, just click the link: UK or US

Guest Review: Tremarnock. The Lives, Loves and Secrets of a Cornish Village by Emma Burstall

Tremarnock is a classic Cornish seaside village. Houses cluster around the fishing harbour. It has a pub and a sought-after little restaurant. It is here that Liz has found sanctuary for herself and her young daughter, Rosie - far away from Rosie's cheating father.

Liz works all the hours God sends. First thing in the morning she's out, cleaning offices. At night she is waitressing in the village restaurant, while friends and neighbours rally round and mind Rosie. But trouble is waiting just round the corner.

As with all villages, there are tensions, secrets - and ambitions. Emma Burstall's wonderfully engaging first novel about Tremarnock is the story of what happens when one shocking turn of events sweeps a small community.

Review: This is the first novel I have read by Emma Burstall, and the first in the Tremarnock series. I was attracted by the lovely cover on the book, which speaks of a tranquil village by the sea, and decided to give it a listen on audiobook. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the story had a lot more to it than the synopsis suggested - a tale with true substance and a moral to boot. 

The story centres around Liz and her daughter, Rosie, who has cerebral palsy, but does not let her disability squash her lively personality. Having been abandoned by Rosie's father, Liz is bringing her daughter up on her own and working 2 jobs just to keep their heads above water. Fortunately, Tremarnock is a village full of lovely people, who are ready to pitch in and help, especially when tragedy strikes Liz and Rosie, which it does in a big way. A great number of characters feature in the story, including inhabitants of Tremarnock itself and friends and colleagues of Liz's from Plymouth, where she works as an office cleaner. One of the main protagonists, apart from Liz and Rosie is Robert, who owns the restaurant where Liz works as a waitress. 

I very much enjoyed this story. You really never knew what was coming next. I was full of admiration for Liz, who showed such immense strength in the face of all sorts of adversity, and also for Rosie, who didn't let anything get her down in spite of all the bad breaks she was dealt. The setting for the story was great as well - a classic Cornish fishing village with pretty little houses, a restaurant serving mouth watering dishes, the local pub and of course a scattering of interesting characters. Romance was bubbling under the surface of the story, but wasn't a main feature. There are 2 more stories in the Tremarnock series; I am looking forward to finding out what is going to happen next in this quaint little village. 

Click the link to order your copy: UK or US

Guest Review: Confetti at the Cornish Cafe by Phillipa Ashley

Cal and Demi are preparing to launch their beloved Kilhallon Resort as a wedding venue. Cakes are baking, Cornish flowers are blooming, and fairy lights are twinkling. With the cliff-top setting and coastal views, it's the perfect place for a magical marriage ceremony.

But their first clients are no ordinary couple. The bride and groom are internationally famous actors Lily Craig and Ben Trevone. Kilhallon is about to host a celebrity wedding . . .

With the pressure on, Demi and Cal are doing all they can to keep their guests happy and avoid any wedding disasters. But is the unpredictable weather the only thing standing in the way of the Big Day?

As secrets surface and truths are told, can Demi and Cal ensure that Kilhallon's first wedding is a success? One thing’s for sure, this will be a Cornish celebration to remember . . .

Review: This is the third book in The Cornish Cafe Series from Phillipa Ashley. When I picked up the first book in the series, Summer at the Cornish Cafe, I had no idea how I would be drawn into the story and the lives of the characters therein. All of these books have proved compelling reading, and I have been aching to read this final chapter since I read the last word of the previous 'instalment'. Fortunately, Phillipa had the foresight to provide a helpful prologue to remind readers of what had gone on before, or to inform anyone who had missed the first two books of relevant history. That and reminders within the text as the story progresses make this book easy to read as a standalone. 

In this third part of the story, we continue to follow the ups and downs of the main characters, Cal and Demi, as they work together to return Cal's family home and holiday complex of Kilhallon to their former glory. As part of the renovations, an old barn has been converted into a cafe that sounds a lovely, cosy location in which to enjoy a refreshment and soak up the spectacular view. As in previous parts of this series, we are treated to wonderful Cornish scenery, cream teas and other mouthwatering goodies in addition to the rest of the action. The problems and triumphs that the central characters meet along the way this time include staging a celebrity wedding ceremony to eclipse all that have gone before. Can everything be ready in time to the exacting requirements of the bride and groom? At the end of the book, Phillipa has added a few recipes to enjoy, including some delicious sounding cocktails and desserts. 

I have found all of these stories really enjoyable. They are full of absolutely believable characters, most of them lovely, but a couple of them purely evil. The Cornish coastal setting is, of course, quite magical, and so well described that I could almost imagine myself swimming in a beautiful Cornish cove. This book would make lovely summer reading, but I would recommend reading all three in the trilogy. I know I am going to miss Cal and Demi.

To order your copy now, click here!

Review: The Last Piece of My Heart by Paige Toon

When life feels like a puzzle, sometimes it's the small pieces that make up the bigger picture... Join Bridget on a journey to put her world back together.

A successful travel journalist, Bridget has ambitions to turn her quirky relationship blog about the missing pieces of her heart into a book. But after a spate of rejections from publishers, she accepts an alternative proposition.

Nicole Dupré died leaving behind a bestselling novel and an incomplete sequel. Tasked with finishing the book, Bridget is thankful to have her foot in the publishing door, even if it means relocating to Cornwall for the summer and answering to Nicole's grieving husband, Charlie...

Review: I was so excited to read this novel and once I started it I couldn't put it own. I love how Paige Toon has such a knack for sweeping you off to a new place and leaving all your worries behind. This time we are swept off to Cornwall for a little bit and then to Thailand, what more could we ask for? I still really felt so immersed in Paige Toon's writing, even though I wasn't necessarily somewhere exotic, it just must be the gift that she has! 

I loved the fact that this novel features and author, I wonder how much personal experience was put into this? And yet it is also about so much more. It is about learning to love after being hurt, about what constitutes lies and deception and about grief and how people handle that in different ways. And there are so many characters facing all or some of these issues. And yet I never felt at any time like this was an issue driven book. I just loved getting to know Bridget and in turn her getting to know Nicole and Charlie. 

This book definitely has a slightly slower pace than some of this author's previous novels, I think perhaps because so much of it takes place in one setting. I loved the family aspect of it too, both Nicole's family and Bridget's family. There were some mo moments that made me laugh and others that made me cry. Of course I wanted to be eating fish an chips during the first section of the novel and then during the latter part of the novel, I was desperate for Pad Thai!

If you are a fan of Paige Toon then obviously you will love this novel. If you are looking for a summer read that you can loose yourself in and escape from the real world then this definitely needs to be added to your collection. The slightly slower pace didn't stop me finishing this one in one day and I am sure that you will absolutely fly through this one, tissues at hand and be left feeling all warm and fuzzy afterwards!

To order your copy now, click here!

Guest Review: Meet Me At Wisteria Cottage by Teresa F Morgan

Gorgeous as he is, Maddy Hart’s first meeting with her stubborn new neighbour strikes plenty of sparks – and not in a good way! Only when someone sets fire to her house, it’s Harry Tudor, ex-fire-fighter turned landscape gardener, who comes to her rescue, generously throwing open his own home to Maddy – and her cat – during the investigation.

Such close proximity to Harry’s mouth-wateringly muscular body soon has Maddy properly hot under the collar! But falling into bed with him is one thing; getting him to open up about his past is clearly another

Review: I have not come across this author before, but I am glad that I got the chance to read this latest book of hers. I found it grabbed me right from the start and had me spellbound; I just had to keep reading right to the end. It was a really easy read, but in no way lacking in detail, and with mystery and drama mixed in with romance to keep the reader guessing just what was going to happen next. 

The story is set in the fictional Cornish village of Tinners Bay, where the heroine, Maddy, has recently opened a gallery selling her own paintings as well as those of other artists. When she returns home one day to find her house on fire, she is taken in by her neighbour, ex-firefighter turned landscaper Harry. However, not wanting to outstay her welcome, she is pleased to be offered temporary accommodation in Wisteria Cottage, a seaside property being renovated by its new owners. This brings her into contact with slightly slimy builder Simon, while hovering in the background is Maddy's creepy ex-boyfriend Connor. There are quite a few other notable characters as well, such as Valerie, an old friend of Maddy's family, and also an adorable cat, Sookie. 

I found this whole story really enjoyable. The Cornish seaside setting is well described, right down to the cream teas and noisy seagulls. The characters are strong, with plenty of history to be discovered as the pages progress. I loved the way in which the author incorporated mystery and danger into a really romantic tale, and that there was a proper hero. I could predict what was going to happen early on, but I had no idea how it was going to play out. It was good, too that there was quite a bit of humour going on. If, like me, you haven't read any of Teresa F Morgan's other books, you may well want to be looking for them once you have finished reading this one; I know I will. 

To order your copy now, just click here!

Guest Review: The Cornish Escape by Lilly Graham

Get swept away along the beautiful Cornish coast, where a love story in a long forgotten diary has the power to change one woman’s life forever.

Victoria Langley’s world crumbles when her husband leaves, but she knows exactly where to go to mend her broken heart. The rugged shores of Cornwall will be her perfect sanctuary. 

In the quaint, little village of Tregollan, nestled in the sea cliffs, Victoria is drawn to Seafall Cottage, covered in vines and gracefully falling apart. Inside she finds a diary full of secrets, from 1905.

Victoria is determined to unravel the diary’s mystery, but the residents of Tregollan are tight-lipped about Tilly Asprey, the cottage’s last owner. Just as she reaches a dead end, Victoria meets Adam Waters, the lawyer handling the cottage’s sale. He’s handsome, charming, and has a missing piece of the puzzle.

Tilly’s diary tells a devastating love story that mirrors Victoria’s own. Can Victoria learn from Tilly’s mistakes, and give herself a second chance at love? Or is history doomed to repeat itself?

Review: This is the 3rd book from Lily Graham that I have read. I adored the first one that I read, but found her last one, A Cornish Christmas, not quite so enthralling. However, I wasn't quite prepared for just how good this latest story was going to be. The reader gets really good value from this book too, as it is 2 stories in one, each set in a different time. 

The main story concerns Victoria Langley, a published biographer who realises that her marriage is over and seeks peace in her beloved Cornwall. In the quaint seaside village of Tregollan, she discovers a long abandoned and fairly well hidden cottage that draws her to it, leading to the discovery of a diary from a former inhabitant, a mystery and a charming love story. In Tregollan, she also meets Adam Waters, an American lawyer dealing with the sale of the cottage, giving us the possibility of a modern day romance as well as the older one. 

Lily Graham has filled this book with really strong characters, and there are even some that will be recognisable to anyone who has read A Cornish Christmas. I love to find familiar characters in a book. It's like meeting up with old friends. The only thing that I found disappointing in the story is that it finished too soon for me. If that's all I have to criticise, it can't be at all bad!

To order your copy now, just click here!

Guest Review: Breakfast Under a Cornish Sun by Samantha Tonge

Kate Golightly needs to move forward and what better way to do that then with a trip to the Cornish coast with best friend and boss, Izzy.

The sea wind is just what Kate needs to finally relax and begin to let go of her past. Except she’s suddenly got one big reason to panic! She RSVP’d ‘yes’ to the Queen Bee of her high school’s wedding saying she’s bringing her boyfriend (she doesn’t have one) who looks just like Ross Poldark!

With only two weeks to find the Poldark look-alike of her dreams Kate is under a lot of pressure for the Cornish coast to deliver…

Review: This is the first book I have read from Samantha Tonge, an author recommended to me by a friend. When I spotted it in the Kindle store, I thought I would give it a go, especially as we could all do with a little sunshine when it's so cold outside. There seem to be so many stories set in Cornwall at present that a successful addition to their number needs to have something to make it stand out from the rest. This one ticks that box due to its unusual culinary content and definitely different plot. 

The action revolves around Kate Golightly, her struggle to recover from a lost love, her passion to help some new friends in need, and her search for a Ross Poldark lookalike. Kate works with boss and friend, Izzy, in the interestingly named Donuts & Daiquiris cafe bar serving coffees and cakes during the day and cocktails and cakes later in the day. She also works as a singer when she can get the opportunity. However, when the girls decide to spend a week in a luxury lodge in Cornwall, they find themselves involved in the rebranding of the holiday camp and on a busman's holiday instead. While in Cornwall, Kate (a big fan of the TV series Poldark) also takes the chance to look for a suitable plus-one to take to a wedding, having claimed to have a boyfriend with a striking resemblance to the hero of the series. 

This story was very easy to read, but I found the plot rather too predictable. I also found the number of mistakes in the text quite annoying; it had clearly been spell-checked but not properly proofed. On the plus side, there are lots of mentions of food running through the story, from the doughnuts with their interesting fillings (not sure I fancy the savoury ones) to the mouthwatering breakfasts and intriguing cocktails. Add to that some good looking men and a bit of romance, and I think that this book would make a good, lighthearted addition to a holiday reading list. 

To take a trip to Cornwall through the pages of this book, just click here!

Guest Review: The Unpredictable Consequences of Love

When Josh Strachan, newly returned to his home in north Cornwall from sunny California, first meets Sophie Wells, he's immediately smitten. Sophie's pretty, she's funny, she has lots of friends and she clearly loves her job as a photographer, despite the sometimes tricky clients. There's just one problem: Sophie has very firmly turned her back on love. It's nothing personal, she tells Josh, but she just doesn't do dates. And no one - even Sophie's scatty best friend Tula - will tell him why. Josh is sure Sophie likes him, though, and he's just got to find out what's put her off romance. And then put things right...

Review: Although she has written a large number of books, this was the first Jill Mansell story that I have read. I actually listened to it as an audiobook and found it a very entertaining companion on a long car journey. The storyline drew me in right from the start and kept my interest all the way through. 

The story has a really powerful cast of varied characters, all of them strong and interesting, with well-described back stories. Among the central characters, are: Sophie, a young professional photographer who has settled in the area; her friend, Tula, who moves from the city to join her; Josh, who has returned to the town to run a local hotel with his grandmother; and the apparently lazy and work-shy local boy, Riley, who lives with his writer aunt.

There are all sorts of storylines going on within the book. Sophie is struggling to overcome a tragedy in her past and trying hard to move on. Josh in particular, is puzzled by her attitude and is keen to help her. Tula's attitudes to men are also coloured by past experiences. Even the more minor characters are involved in dramatic situations. It's not plain sailing for anyone.

The action takes place in a small Cornish seaside town, lots of it in the hotel run by Josh and his grandmother. The hotel has a really picturesque setting overlooking the beach, with a path down to the sand. It sounds really idyllic. You can almost picture the beach, with its mixture of families playing in the sand and surfers taking advantage of the waves.

I thought that this story was really skilfully written. It has great depth to it and plenty going on to keep the reader's interest. It would make a great addition to anyone's pile of holiday reading. Having now read my first Jill Mansell book, I shall be looking out for her next one with anticipation. 

Guest Review: A Cornish Christmas by Lily Graham

Nestled in the Cornish village of Cloudsea, sits Sea Cottage – the perfect place for some Christmas magic … 

At last Ivy is looking forward to Christmas. She and her husband Stuart have moved to their perfect little cottage by the sea - a haven alongside the rugged cliffs that look out to the Atlantic Ocean. She’s pregnant with their much-longed for first baby and for the first time, since the death of her beloved mother, Ivy feels like things are going to be alright. 

But there is trouble ahead. It soon emerges that Stuart has been keeping secrets from Ivy, and suddenly she misses her mum more than ever. 

When Ivy stumbles across a letter from her mother hidden in an old writing desk, secrets from the past come hurtling into the present. But could her mother’s words help Ivy in her time of need? Ivy is about to discover that the future is full of unexpected surprises and Christmas at Sea Cottage promises to be one to remember. 

This Christmas warm your heart and escape to the Cornish coast for an uplifting story of love, secrets and new beginnings that you will remember for many Christmases to come. 

Previously published as The Postcard. This is an extended version.

Review: This book is an extended version of an earlier novella entitled The Postcard. It is the second book that I have read from Lily Graham, and it is definitely different. I would have to say from the start that those who pick this book up expecting a nice Christmassy tale will be very disappointed. Christmas does feature during the course of the story, but it is no big part of it. I think that maybe the book's former title was more appropriate, since a postcard plays a large role.

The story revolves around Ivy Everton and her husband, Stuart. They live in a lovely rambling cottage by the sea in the little Cornish village of Cloudsea, where they have moved to get away from the madness of life in London, much to Stuart's mother's disgust. Ivy is a highly successful children's book writer and illustrator, while Stuart has exchanged the busy life of marketing for market gardening, and makes the most wonderful sounding preserves (such as pak choi jelly). After years of trying and many, many disappointments, they are finally pregnant. Strange and magical things begin to happen in Ivy's life after she retrieves her late mother's writing desk from her one time home, where her father now lives alone.

Apart from my dismay on finding that this was not, in fact, a nice, warm Christmas romance, I did find myself drawn into this story. It was slow to start with, but eventually I got to the stage of not wanting to put it down. There was quite a bit of humour in it, mainly connected with Stuart's preserve making activities and the antics of some of Ivy's mothers old chums, but also some serious and heart-rending parts. The end had me in tears. I would recommend it especially to readers who enjoy a bit of magic and ghostly activity, but you should avoid it if this is not your kind of thing.

Review: Two Weddings and a Baby by Scarlet Bailey

Tamsyn Thorne has not been back to her home town of Poldore for five long years.

But now her brother, Ruan, is about to get married and she has no excuses left.

Her plans to arrive in Cornwall looking chic and successful are dashed when a huge storm turns her from fashion goddess to a drowned rat. Worse, she ends up insulting the local hunky vicar – and then finds a tiny baby abandoned in his churchyard…

Review: so exciting to have a summer release from Scarlet Bailey this year. I don't know how the queen of Christmas managed to squeeze it in but she has done it again! This is an awesome story, completely addictive and something that everyone must read. One of the best things about this story is that it carries on from where we left Poldore in this authors latest Christmas work and so we get to catch up with old friends, in particular the loveable Buoy who saves the day constantly and of course, the lovely Alex who I'm sure you'll have fallen in love with if you've read the previous novel. If you are planning on reading Just For Christmas and haven't already, then you should read that first because this book will be full of spoilers. If you don't want to read Just For Christmas (although you should-it's awesome) then this works perfectly as a stand alone novel. If, like me, you've been excited about this novel since you read Just For Christmas, then you won't be disappointed by the turnout in this fab story! 

There is drama galore in this book. We have storms destroying towns, lost babies, but who is the mother? Wedding dresses that have to be created at the drop of a hat and warring siblings who may or may not make it up by the big day! And that's just in the first chapter! Honestly, if you're looking for a book with more twists and turns than the Monaco racetrack then you've found it here! At no point though, do you feel as if anything is unrealistic or simply sensationalist, all of the events in this book could have happened, and as you get deeper into the storyline, gasping at each page turn, you will be so absorbed in the story that of course you'll know that the vicar is going to have a whole cupboard full of dirty secrets that form a key to one of the plot twists! 

The characters in the novel are great. As well as the old favourites from the previous book we get to meet the sexy new vicar who is also a dab hand at changing nappies. Tamsyn who has just returned to Poldore from Paris and who has a complete personality transfer over the course of the book. The verger Catriona Merryweather (what an awesome name!) who has some serious secrets of her own and of course baby Mo who you will instantly fall in love with. These guys merge really well with the other characters in the novel and each play a major part in tying the whole story together. 

You honestly won't be able to put this book down, so keen will you be to find out what happens next. There is a storing message of friendship and family that runs throughout the novel and of course there is the wonderful setting in Poldore which will have you aching for the sea! You will gasp, you will laugh and you will find yourself willing two characters to hurry up and get it on already. A fab book for summer from the wonderful Scarlet Bailey!